Rolland To Referee His Third Heineken Cup Final
Ireland’s Alain Rolland has been appointed to referee his third Heineken Cup final when Toulon and Saracens meet in Cardiff on Saturday, May 24. The former scrum half also refereed the 2004 and 2013 European deciders.
The Cardiff 2014 finals match official appointments were announced today following a meeting of the ERC Match Officials sub-committee.
The meeting reviewed match official performances across all relevant tournaments in conjunction with feedback from the referee managers in each Union and from club coaching staff.
Alain Rolland refereed the 2004 Heineken Cup final between London Wasps and Toulouse as well as last season’s decider between Toulon and Clermont Auvergne at the Aviva Stadium.
Saturday, May 24 will mark the end of the Dubliner’s distinguished refereeing career in European tournaments. His assistant referees for the game in the Welsh capital will be Nigel Owens (Wales) and George Clancy (Ireland).
Meanwhile, France’s Jerome Garces has been appointed as referee for the Amlin Challenge Cup final between Bath and Northampton Saints at Cardiff Arms Park on Friday, May 23.
The Challenge Cup final will be Garces’ 40th European fixture and he will be assisted by fellow Frenchmen Romain Poite and Pascal Gauzere.
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HEINEKEN CUP FINAL:
Saturday, May 24 –
Toulon v Saracens, Millennium Stadium, 5pm
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland); Assistant Referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), George Clancy (Ireland); TMO: Gareth Simmonds (Wales); Citing Commissioner: Douglas Hunter (Scotland)
AMLIN CHALLENGE CUP FINAL:
Friday, May 23 –
Bath v Northampton Saints, Cardiff Arms Park, 8pm
Referee: Jerome Garces (France); Assistant Referees: Romain Poite, Pascal Gauzere (both France); TMO: Eric Gauzins (France); Citing Commissioner: Murray Whyte (Ireland)